Rock Mourns a Legend: KISS Guitarist Ace Frehley Passes Away at 74

Rock legend and original Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley has died at the age of 74, following complications from a fall at his home. Earlier this month, Frehley had canceled the remainder of his 2025 tour, citing ongoing medical issues linked to the accident. Reports later confirmed he had suffered a brain bleed and was placed on life support.

In a heartfelt statement released by his family, they said:

“We are completely devastated and heartbroken. In his last moments, we were fortunate enough to have been able to surround him with loving, caring, peaceful words, thoughts, prayers and intentions as he left this earth. We cherish all of his finest memories, his laughter, and celebrate his strengths and kindness that he bestowed upon others. The magnitude of his passing is of epic proportions, and beyond comprehension. Reflecting on all of his incredible life achievements, Ace’s memory will continue to live on forever.”

From Bronx Kid to Guitar God

Born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in New York City, the future “Spaceman” grew up in a musical family in the Bronx. He picked up a guitar at age 13 and never looked back. At 21, he responded to a classified ad placed by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss, who were looking for a lead guitarist with both “flash and ability.”

He didn’t make the best first impression. “Some guy walked in with an orange sneaker and a red sneaker,” Stanley once said. “I thought a bum had walked in off the street, except he was carrying a guitar,” Simmons added.

But his playing quickly changed their minds. “When we all plugged in and played together, there was just magic,” Stanley recalled. “As soon as he played, it was like, ‘This is it,’” Simmons agreed.

Frehley’s fiery, unorthodox guitar style, deeply inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page, gave Kiss a raw, hard rock edge—even as the band leaned into pop and disco in the late ‘70s. As Kiss exploded into mainstream fame with their larger-than-life personas, face paint, and pyrotechnic shows, Frehley became a fan favorite. His “Spaceman” persona and signature smoking guitar helped define the band’s theatrical appeal.

Although Kiss struggled with their early records, the 1975 live album Alive! was a breakthrough. But behind the scenes, Frehley often felt like a passenger in a vehicle driven by Simmons and Stanley.

Solo Success and Final Exit from Kiss

In 1978, the four Kiss members simultaneously released solo albums, hoping to ease rising tensions. Frehley’s self-titled debut turned out to be a surprise hit. It was the best-reviewed and best-selling of the four, featuring the Top 20 single “New York Groove.”

Despite the solo success earning him more creative room on future albums, Frehley became increasingly disillusioned with Kiss’s musical direction, particularly after the widely criticized 1981 concept album Music From “The Elder”. Combined with escalating substance abuse issues, he parted ways with the band not long after.

In 1987, he launched his solo career in earnest with Frehley’s Comet, which received positive reviews and was followed by two more albums in quick succession. A full reunion came in 1996 when the original lineup reunited for a blockbuster world tour. However, old habits—and old tensions—returned. Frehley officially left the band again in 2002.

Legacy, Influence, and Final Years

After achieving sobriety in 2006, Frehley found renewed focus. He released a string of well-received solo albums, including Anomaly (2009) and Space Invader (2014), and returned to regular touring. His influence on rock music remained profound, even as his relationship with Simmons and Stanley continued to be rocky.

Though the original Kiss lineup was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, they did not perform together due to ongoing disagreements. Frehley and Criss were also absent from the band’s farewell End of the Road tour.

Despite the tension, Frehley remained reflective about his time with Kiss. In his 2011 memoir No Regrets, he wrote:

“Despite the many ups and downs I had with Kiss over the years, I couldn’t help but remember all the fun we shared in our formative years. We achieved greatness in the music industry and had several groundbreaking achievements well into the new millennium. To this day I still consider them my brothers in rock ’n’ roll and love them.”

Frehley’s impact on rock guitar is impossible to overstate. He has been credited as a major influence by a host of modern guitar greats, including Dimebag Darrell (Pantera), Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Scott Ian (Anthrax), and John 5 (Mötley Crüe).

In one of his final interviews with Guitar Player in 2024, he said:

“I’d probably have practiced a little more if I knew I was going to affect that many people’s lives. It does make me proud and very happy though that I influenced a lot of great guitar players.”

Ace Frehley may be gone, but the sound of his Les Paul and the echo of his cosmic persona will continue to shape rock ‘n’ roll for generations.